Many hospital doctors intend to leave the health service before retirement age because of long hours, stress and depression, a survey out today showed.

Only 23pc of doctors said they would stay in the NHS until they were 65, with the rest planning to retire early, change career, do more private work or move abroad, said the poll by industry magazine Hospital Doctor.

It also found three out of ten doctors were considering quitting the NHS for private practice, while six in ten said they intended to take early retirement. The survey questioned 1,001 doctors in the UK, 75pc of them consultants.

The magazine said increasing workloads and a decline in clinical autonomy were leading to low morale and disillusionment.

The survey comes days after a family doctor who became depressed was found hanged. Dr Dawn Harris, 38, was found by her husband Michael Churchill at the couple's home in Bury, Greater Manchester, on Saturday.